Denied tornado aid? FEMA, SBA offer session Sunday to help.

From left, Malyssa Suarez and Steve Cooper, both with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Hossain, of the Small Business Administration, and Brigitte Bouska, with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, conduct a joint preliminary assessment of tornado-damaged buildings June 5 at the Woodland Hills Apartments in Trotwood. CHRIS STEWART / STAFF(Staff Writer)

Staff Writer

— Several agencies will offer help Sunday to survivors of the Memorial Day tornado outbreak who have applied for disaster relief and been denied.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Montgomery County Recorder and representatives from U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman’s offices will meet with tornado victims whose FEMA or SBA disaster relief applications have been denied.

The first of two information sessions will be in Trotwood at 1 p.m. at Trotwood-Madison High School, 4440 N. Union Road, in the auxiliary gym. There will also be a session in the Dayton Metro Main Library, 215 E. Third Street, at 3:30 p.m. in second floor community rooms A and B.

Representatives from the SBA and FEMA will be available to sit down with attendees and discuss what to do if a claim was rejected, how to locate specific documents for the application or the process for appealing a denial for assistance. Those who attend will get one-on-one attention from FEMA and SBA representative, said Leo Skinner, external affairs officer for FEMA.

Skinner recommended bringing any documentation of a FEMA or SBA application or denial, insurance paperwork or any other related documents.

Officials from the Montgomery County Recorder’s office will be available to help residents locate copies of documents they may have lost in the tornadoes, like a deed or utility bill.

Skinner said the FEMA disaster relief center at Dayton Children’s will close on Friday, Aug. 30. It has been open since June.

As of Friday, 4,310 Montgomery County residents had applied for disaster relief through FEMA, Skinner said. About 70% of disaster relief applicants in Ohio reside in Montgomery County.

The approval rate for a disaster relief grant is about 30%, Skinner said.

FEMA has approved 1,559 individual assistance applications in Ohio, according to its website.

The new deadline to apply for FEMA and SBA disaster relief is Sept. 3.

Skinner also urged renters to apply for rental assistance by that deadline.

The deadline for tornado victims to apply for tax relief is Aug. 31. Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith’s office mailed nearly 1,900 applications and a letter reminding affected property owners of the deadline.

Keith said property owners can get help with their application today from 1-4 p.m. at the Brookville Branch of the Dayton Metro Library, at 120 Blue Pride Dr.; Aug. 26 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Trotwood Branch Library at 651 E. Main St.; or on Aug. 31 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Electra C. Doren Branch Library, 701 Troy St.